​We had a nice few days in Nove, before the race weekend started on Friday, which was super cool. The Orbea Oiz is an awesome bike for a track like Nove Mesto. The track is rooty, rooky, not super steep, lots of flow (if you find it) and for that the bike is insane. I loved to play around out there and set it up as good as I could. I ended up riding with a little higher pressure in my front wheel (1.1) to make sure I didn’t puncture, in the rear I stayed on 1.1bar like I normally do, but with a tire noodle for protection. For my suspension we ended up releasing a bit of air and making it slower. Made me feel way smoother and in control both up and down.

top 20 after the start loop, and I had stayed within my limits. ​I knew we had 6 laps to go and that I had time to make up spots.
But that stumble I talked about? Yea, in one of the fast sections we call AC/DC, I came a little too hot and out of control into a turn and hit the ground hard. But you know, normally, I crash, I get up and I ride on. Somehow Sunday was different. I did the first ‘get up’ part, then the next step was harder. I had hit an old injury on my knee, which is a sweet spot for pain, so it took me around 5 minutes to feel anything but pain - Imagine a Malene rolling down to the start/finish straight breathing so deep not to cry – not so nice… I was determined to finish the race, pain or not, I wasn’t quitting.

​When the pain eventually got under more control, I was struggling to find the mental strength to get back into the race for the last couple of laps. I couldn't distract myself from the pain, it was just a battle with myself. But now as I’m thinking back, I wasn’t in a super strong mental place when the weekend started. So maybe the tank of Malenes-mental-warrior-unstoppable-beast-mode was a little empty. And maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself. In the end of the day I set a goal to finish pain or not - and I did that. 
Now I’m back in Denmark getting taken care off, resting, helping my body and I think by the end of this week I’m back in the dream state again, ready to pursue.

What’s better, having an uphill-flying hard tail or a smooth sailor full suspension?
Hard to say, but we must make the decision when we’re racing in Albstadt. The German World Cup.
​I’m riding Orbea bikes and therefor my choice is between the Alma or the OIZ. Pros and cons to both choices, but I sticked with my initial plan – the hard tail life!
Which isn't the most fun life, but it's a fast life 

​I arrived in the weather moody Albstadt region Wednesday afternoon. You never know what to expect when it comes to the weather in Albstadt, rain or shine (even snow) can change over the span of a few minutes, so you got to be ready for anything. Or at least being ready to find the umbrella and the mud tires (so almost everything haha). 

​My racing, both Friday and Sunday, was two solid rides. Nothing really spectacular, but just two decent races. I’m happy I was consistent over the weekend and felt good both days. I also did some of the race together with my teammate Janika, so that was pretty cool. After the race we had a lasagne - tiramisu - UNO party, to finish off the week on a high.

​Now back in Spain to repack and reset for the upcoming challenges. A 48h stop over to get ready for some weeks on the world cup circuit. We start in Albstadt, Germany, on Friday with a short track race. I’m starting in 2nd row and I’m so excited to see what I can do from there.
I will be racing on the Alma, Orbea’s hard tail, so precision and out of the saddle pushing will be what's on the menu. 
World Cup weekends are always big challenges, but, I know it sounds cliché, it's also what dreams are made of. Feeling the adrenalin, the hype, the atmosphere is just worth it all. Cheesy but true haha.